Performance and Conclusions The D600 isn't the fastest-shooting D-SLR you can get—that honor goes to the D4, which rattles off shots at 10 frames per second with ease. It manages a respectable 5.3 frames per second, a pace which it can keep for 14 frames when shooting Raw+JPG, 16 frames when shooting Raw only, or 43 frames when shooting JPG only. We stopped shooting as soon as the camera started to slow down its pace, and measured the time it took the buffer to clear when using a SanDisk 95MBps SD card. This recovery time was 11.9 seconds for Raw+JPG, 9.1 seconds for Raw, and 6.2 seconds for JPG. Burst shooting is one area where the D600 outshines the 36-megapixel D800—it only manages 4 frames per second, and can buffer fewer shots, and requires a longer time to clear its buffer.

Start up speed is 0.4-second, about the same as the D800 and better than the 0.7-second notched by the Canon EOS 5D Mark III. Shutter lag is less than 0.1-second, and in good light it only takes about 0.7 second to lock on and fire a shot. Focus speed averages about 1.6 seconds in very dim light. When using Live View mode, focus confirmation requires about 1.8 seconds in good light and averages 2.2 seconds in dim light.

I used Imatest to check the performance of the D600 in terms of image sharpness and noise. The camera ships as a body-only or as a kit with the AF-S Nikkor 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR zoom lens. The lens is quite sharp at all tested focal lengths, topping 2,238 lines at 24mm f/3.5, hitting 2,090 lines at 50mm f/4.2, and softening slightly to 1,900 lines at 85mm f/5.6. All scores are in excess of the 1,800 lines required for a sharp photo.

The D600 keeps image noise under 1.5 percent (our acceptability threshold) through its top standard setting of ISO 6400. It is also capable of shooting at 12800 and 25600 in extended mode, at 1.8 percent and 2.3 percent noise, respectively. Image detail at default JPG settings is good at ISO 6400, and the camera can be configured to apply less noise reduction when shooting in the JPG format. Raw files are not yet supported by Lightroom, but I was able to view them using the included ViewNX 2 software. Image detail is excellent through ISO 3200, and very good at ISO 6400. Depending on your tolerance for grain, you can push the camera to ISO 12800 when shooting Raw and still capture impressive image detail. If you're going for the grainy look, ISO 25600 lends itself especially well to black and white conversions.

Video quality is excellent all around, topping out at 1080p30 and 720p60 in QuickTime format. You can autofocus while rolling footage, although you'll have to press the shutter halfway down to so. Focus takes about a second, as it hunts a bit before locking on. The experience is similar to that on other Nikon D-SLRs and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III, but it lags behind a fixed-mirror camera like the Sony Alpha 77, which delivers full-time phase detect autofocus during video recording for fast, automatic, and accurate autofocus.

There are a few ports on the camera, including standard minijacks for headphones and microphones, and a mini USB 2.0 slot, which can be used to connect to a computer or to plug in the optional Wi-Fi module. There's a dedicated accessory port for the GPS add-on unit as well. The mini HDMI port can be used to plug the camera into a TV, and video pros will be able to connect it to a field recorder for true uncompressed HD video acquisition. One interface that is missing is a PC Sync socket, used to connect to a studio lighting setup or to an off-camera flash. You can add one via a hotshoe adapter like the Wein Safe Sync, but it is really something that should be included on a body that is this expensive.

You get two SD slots, each supporting the latest SDXC card format. You can use one slot for JPG and one for Raw, one for images and one for video, create a realtime backup of all of your shots onto two cards of identical capacity, or simply use the second slot as an overflow card that becomes active when the first card is full.

What you think of the Nikon D600 depends on the direction from which you are approaching it. If you're an APS-C shooter considering the upgrade to a full-frame body, but had previously been intimidated by the price, you'll feel right at home with the D600's control layout. Pro shooters who typically use a D4 or D800 and are looking for a backup or second body may be turned off by the differences in the control layout, as it's sure to make using it side-by-side with an existing camera when shooting events a hassle. If you're not yet tied to the Nikon lens system, the Canon EOS 6D, which we've yet to review, may represent a better full-frame value—it's priced the same and features built-in Wi-Fi and a GPS, but we won't be able to deliver a verdict on that camera until it's been tested. Despite its low price, the D600 can't wrestle away our Editors' Choice award from its very big brother, the pro-level Nikon D4, but not every shooter needs that much camera.

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